Card holding tray



June 20, 1933. G. H. DAWSON CARD HOLDING TRAY Filed Jan. 14, 1929 Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT orFicE GEORGE H. DAWSON, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO WILSON-JONES COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS CARD HOLDING TRAY App1ication filed January 14, 1929. Serial No. 332,453.

This invention relates to a card-holding tray in which individual cards or sheets mounted upon carriers are adapted to be retained in overlapping relation with one edge exposedto view.

This invention concerns itself primarily with such a tray in which the cards can be readily regrouped or transferred to another tra The invention comprises the novel structure and combinations of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views.

a Figure 1 is a perspective view of a card holding tray involving this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged end elevational view of the card holding tray.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2il1usi, trating the position of the carrier when regrouping or transferring the cards and thou carriers.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken upon the line IVIV of ii 7. Figure 2.

0 Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken transversely through one of the card carriers.

The invention in its broadest aspects con- V 7 templates any card tray in which the card carriers can be arranged in such a way that the same may be quickly regrouped or may be speedily transferred to another tray. As illustrative of this invention there is shown a card holding tray which in the present instance is made of sheet metal and consists of a bottom 1 and lateral flanges 2 which terminate in overhanging flanges 3 whereby channel-like formations are formed for receiving the ends of the card carriers 4:. Suitable partitions 5 are placed in the respective channels of the tray. In the present instance, these partitions are shown in the form of small angle bars which are welded or secured to the bottom of the tray with one flange extending upwardly. The upstanding flanges of these angle bars provide separate compartments for receiving the ends of the carriers 4. It will be noted that adjacent each channel of the tray there is a depressed portion or recess 6 in the bottom of the tray. In this recessed portion there is a swingable plate 7 which is pivoted in any suitable manner in a further depression 8 in the tray. The purpose of these depressions is to provide a flush construction with respect to the top of the plate 7 and the bottom of the tray.

While it is conceivable that a great many different kinds of card carriers may be used in connection with this tray and that the invention is not to be understood as limited to any kind of particular carrier a novel form of card-holding carrier has been illustrated, which will however be made the subject matter of an independent application Serial No. 1: 532,451, filed January 14, 1929. It will be briefly mentioned that the illustrated carrier consist-s of a metal member which is bent into substantially rectangular form with overlapping lips 4a and 45 between which the cards are clamped in such a way that they may be-readily removed. It will be noted that the lips 46; are spaced apart and are only located at spaced points from the ends of the carrier in order to provide a space between such lipsfor manually depressing the other lip as will more fully appear in my copending application. Suitable resilient tongues 9 are struck up from the ends of the carrier for a purpose that will presently appear.

It will be noted that the upper ends of the partitions 5 are spaced a considerable distance below the overhanging flanges 3 of the channel formations whereby it is now possible to remove the card carriers by a diagonal shifting movement when the same are elevated above the partition members 5 by compressing the resilient tongues or springs 9. Ordinarily the spring tongues 9 are ofsuflicient height from the carriers to prevent the accidental removal of the carriers from their respective compartments. It is therefore possible to handle the same without any danger of the carriers becoming displaced or removed from their compartments.

' The card carriers normally lie flat adjacen the bottom of the tray as shown in Figure 2. It will of course be understood that the inserted cards that are sustained by these carriers are usually arranged in somewhat alphabetical order and it is frequently desirable to regroup these cards that are sustained on the carriers and in order to do this, the plates 7 are swung upwardly into vertical position as shown in Figure 3. The plates 7 may be swung upwardly by pickingthe same upwardly by the fingers,'or by inserting a tool a under the ends of the same. \Vlien these plates 7 are swung upwardly, they elevate the card carriers above the partitions 5 and allow the same to be readily shifted or regrouped as desired. It will of course be understood that when the card carriers are elevated, the spring tongues 9 will be sufficiently depressed in order that the carriers may be readily shifted or transferred. Now if it is desired to transfer the card carriers from one tray to another, it is only necessary to place the two trays end for end and elevate the plates 7 in both trays. It will be noted that the illustrated trays are open at their ends whereby it is possible to bring a pair of trays into end-on relation and shift the card carriers along the tops of the upstanding plates 7 from one tray to another without in any way disturbing their arrangement. However it will be appreciated that the carriers can readily be regrouped while they are being transferred or just prior thereto if de sired. This regrouping is done while the carriers are in elevated position upon the plates 7 and are in perfect alignment. For example, in elevated position a carrier may be readily removed from its position in the index and transferred to a different position by separating the carriers at that particular point, then by sliding the carriers or suitably shifting the same the space left by the removed carrier may be readily filled.

The invention herein illustrated provides a visible index having many advantages over those now in use. Among these advantages may be mentioned the particular ease and facility with which the cards and carriers may be readily regroupcd and rearranged as desired or may be transferred from one tray to another by bringing a pair of trays in endon abutting relation.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patentgranted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a card index, an open-ended tray, means for confining a plurality of card carriers against shifting movement longitudinally of the tray and a card elevator connected to said tray for elevating the card carriers above said means.

2. In a card index, a tray, means in said tray forming a series of compartments along each lateral margin thereof, card holders having their terminals located in said C0111- partments and card elevating means beneath said card holders for simultaneously elevating the same above said compartments.

.3. Ina filing element tray having partitions along its lateral margins forming spacedcompartments and filing elements elevating members mounted in said tray and normally underlying said filing elements.

4. In a. filing element tray having side walls, spaced partitions attached to said side walls and filing elements elevating members hinged .to the bottom of the tray and swingable to vertical position for elevating the filing elements above said partitions.

5. In a filing element tray having side walls with overhanging flanges, spaced partitions extending along said side walls spaced beneath said overhanging flanges, and filing elements elevating means in said tray for elevating said elements above said partitions.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

GEORGE H. DAWSON. 

